1 Hardware requirements

1.1 Requirements for the 360° camera

The 360 SiteStream HoloBuilder integration only works with the Ricoh Theta Vcameras as this app will be installed directly on the cameras. For 360 SiteStream you can use one or more cameras, there is no limitation here. The amount of the needed cameras depends therefore on your use case and how many spots you want to monitor on your construction site.

Prepare your camera:

Update camera firmware: The Ricoh Theta V camera requires the installation of the Firmware 2.3.0 or newer to have plug-in apps installed from the Ricoh App Store. You can find a guide on how to check the firmware on your camera and how to update it provided directly by Ricoh here.

Enable the wifi-client mode: The camera needs to be put into the wifi-client mode to be able to connect with an external wifi.

Get the 360 SiteStream plug-in: The 360 SiteStream plug-in is an app that needs to be installed directly on your Ricoh Theta V camera. If you want to connect multiple cameras with your HoloBuilder project to site stream, you need to install the 360 SiteStream app on each of the cameras.

The complete preparations and steps for installation will be explained in more detail below.

1.2 Requirements for the Mobile device

If you have the JobWalk app already installed on your mobile device, please update the app to the version 2.0.

Alternatively, if you do not yet have the JobWalk app installed on your mobile device, please install the newest version from the App Store or Play store. You can find additional instructions about how to install the JobWalk app and get a general introduction here.

Download the official JobWalk app by HoloBuilder directly from Google Play for Android or the App Store for your iOS device below:

1.3 Requirements for the Camera location & setup

The Theta Vs need to be installed on a fixed location on your construction site to live stream. At the location, you need to make sure to provide

1. A WiFi connection with internet to transmit the live stream.

Recommended Internet connection over WiFi or Mobile/Cellular Access Point with:

1 Mbps Upstream, 1 Mbps Downstream for a minimum resolution

2 Mbps Up- and Downstream for 720p medium quality

3 Mbps Up- and Downstream for 1080p high quality

15 Mbps Up- and Downstream for highest quality (with up to 4K)

For a Mobile/Cellular Access Point at least a 3G connection is required, UMTS HSPA recommended

2. A power source to connect the camera via USB cable so that it can’t run out of power. The camera is charged in approx. 200 minutes (at 25°C (77°F)).Power Socket/Connection recommendations: Theta V USB Cable & Wall Plug Extension Adapter TE-1

The cameras can be placed on a stable tripod in the middle of the room or fixed at the ceiling. Please make sure to use an extension like the Extension Adapter TE-1 to keep enough space to connect the Theta V camera to a power source.

2 Preparation – Install the 360 SiteStream plug-in

Install the plug-in and configure the camera to get started: The HoloBuilder 360 SiteStream plug-in app can be installed from the Ricoh App Store. Find the complete instructions on how to install the app on your camera in the video below. Please make sure to check all the necessary steps. Watch the recorded webinar below to get a full detailed overview on the installation process for 360SiteStream.

2.1 Firmware update

Before continuing with the plug-in installation, make sure to download and install the firmware version 2.41.1 or later for your Ricoh Theta V camera.

2.3 Enable the Wifi-client mode

During configuration, the Theta V has to be switched to the WiFi-client mode

Wifi-client mode means that your camera is connected to an external Wifi, e.g. on your construction site, instead of the using the internal camera Wifi. Via this Wifi, the camera can also be connected to your phone.

If you haven’t switched your camera to wifi-client mode before, please follow these instructions by Ricoh to set up wifi-client mode.

2.2 360 SiteStream installation

The HoloBuilder 360 SiteStream plug-in has to be installed via the Ricoh desktop plug-in store.

Note: During configuration, the Theta V has to be in the Wifi network as the device on which the JobWalk app is installed.

Configure the camera:

Enter the plug-in mode of the Theta V. Follow this Theta V user guide to activate the plug-in mode.Note: You need to install the official smartphone app for the Theta V to make these changes. Find all downloads by Ricoh here.

Switch your Ricoh Theta V camera into the WiFi-client mode (if you have not set up your WiFi-client mode for this camera yet, please set it up by following these instructions first.)

Get the Theta desktop app for your local machine as well as the official Theta mobile app on your mobile device. Please find all official applications for the Theta V by Ricoh here.

Install the HoloBuilder plug-in 360 SiteStream on your camera.

5. On a desktop device: Go to the Plug-in Store and download 360 SiteStream to your local machine. Make sure to have the Theta desktop app installed beforehand.

3 Setting up the live stream

The connection for the live stream can be set up in the JobWalk app. Make sure to connect to the same WiFi-network as your camera is and stay close to the camera to have an eye on it, for now, to see if the camera gets activated correctly.

While the camera is turned on press the 'Mode' button on the side of your Theta V for 2 seconds to start the plugin. The LED will flash red for a few seconds before a 'Live' indicator will turn on.

Select and open the project of your choosing

Click on the waypoint of the location on the sheet where the site stream camera will be located.Please note: You will not be able to capture new 360° pictures or TimeTravels with this camera because it is in the WiFi-client mode.

On IOS, click the 3 dots next to the capture button, and then set up 360 SiteStreamOn Android, select options at the bottom of the screen, and then set up 360 SiteStream

From the list, choose the camera you want to connect to the selected location in your HoloBuilder project.

When asked, provide the WiFi-client mode password you set up before during the camera configuration.Note: If you did not set a new password, the default password is the serial number of your Theta V written at the bottom of the camera or in the original name of the Theta.

Click the live-stream button showing up on the right side of the screen with the 360° image.

The “LIVE” LED on the camera blinks to show that the camera is now trying to set up the live stream.

Set a 360 SiteStream password to control and restrict access to your live site stream.Note: To view the live stream the viewer will have to enter the password. By this, your 360 SiteStream is protected against unauthorized access.

Once the password is set, the live stream button turns yellow. This signalizes that the live stream is correctly set up.

The “LIVE” LED on the camera is turned on and stopped blinking. This indicates that the camera is now ready to stream.

Upload the project to save your live stream setup.

Disconnect/reconnect a camera

To disconnect a camera from a project or a specific location, you simply need to overwrite the camera configuration (and tap once again on the live-stream button).

Move the camera with the tripod to a new location on your site and connect to a power source. As the camera is already configured correctly, you only need to redo the connection steps described above to connect your camera with the new location on the sheet in your HoloBuilder project in the JobWalk app.

4 View the live stream

You can access and share the on-site live stream in the HoloBuilder web editor or viewer on your desktop as well as mobile device.

Go to the HoloBuilder web editor and log in or access the project via a dedicated share link directly in the viewer mode.

Load the project in which you set up the live stream.

Switch to preview mode.

Open the scene for which you set up the live stream.

Click on the live stream icon in the bottom right corner.

Enter the password you chose for the live stream during the setup in the JobWalk app.

The live stream for the selected location on your project will turn on.Note: The recording led on the camera will turn on to show that the camera is streaming.

To stop the live stream, click the live steam button again in the preview or close the browser window.

View your live steam on mobile

Alternatively, you can also directly view a HoloBuilder project including a 360 SiteStream remotely with your mobile device.

Open the project with the live stream via the JobWalk app or a share link on a mobile device of your choice.

Open the scene for which you set up the live stream.

Tap on the live stream icon in the bottom right corner.

Enter the password you chose for the live stream during the setup in the JobWalk app.

The live stream for the selected location on your project will turn on.Note: The recording led on the camera will turn on to show that the camera is streaming.

To stop the live stream, tap the live steam button again in the browser view or close the browser window.

Share the live stream

The project including the live stream can be shared as any other project. Find out more about your custom sharing settings here. In order for others to also access the live site stream, please share the camera’s password you have set up safely with this person.Please note: The camera will automatically recover if it fails for unknown reasons. It only needs to go through the initialization process again which might take a moment.

FAQ

What is a plug-in app?

A plug-in app is a tiny program that is running on the Ricoh Theta V which extends the functionality of the camera. 360 SiteStream is such a plug-in app that adds a live streaming capability for HoloBuilder projects.

What is WiFi-client mode?

The WiFi client mode enables the camera to connect to an existing wireless network (e.g. wireless hotspot) instead of connecting it directly to a mobile device. Thus, it can communicate (e.g. to the HoloBuilder servers) over the internet without the need of having a mobile phone around.

How can I set the video quality?

The live stream video quality will automatically adjust based on the internet speed with up to 4K live stream.